Adjustable reel mower

ABSTRACT

A yieldable adjustable mechanism for controlling the cutting relationship between the rotating blades and stationary bed-knife of a reel mower in which the reel is mounted on the supporting frame for pivotal movement relative thereto about an axis spaced from but parallel to the axis of the reel. The reel includes a lug which is threadedly engaged by an adjusting bolt, which bolt is supported by an end plate of the frame and is rotatable and slidable relative thereto. Turning of the bolt adjusts the cutting relationship between the reel and the bed-knife and if the cutting reel moves upwardly such as by interposition of an object between the reel and the bed-knife, the bolt slidingly yields relative to the end plate which normally supports it. A coiled spring is mounted on the bolt and interposed between the lug and the frame to continuously bias the reel towards the bedknife. Mechanism for adjusting the tension of the spring comprising a threaded sleeve slidably and rotatably mounted on the bolt and a nonrotatable lug threadedly engaged with said sleeve are interposed between the spring and the frame whereby turning of the sleeve causes movement of the lug, which movement varies the tension on the spring. The following disclosure contains a correct and full description of the invention and of the best mode known to the inventor of taking advantage of the same.

Unit

[72] Inventor Ralph W. Speiser Minneapolis, Minn. [211 App]. No. 785,421[22] Filed Oct. 17, 1968 Division of Ser. No. 390,704, Aug. 19, 1964,

Pat. No. 3,410,063. [45] Patented Apr. 27, 1971 [73] Assignee ToroManufacturing Corporation Minneapolis, Minn.

[54] ADJUSTABLE REEL MOWER 13 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 56/249 [51] Int. Cl A0ld 55/20 [50] Field of Search 56/7,26, 249, 294, 249.5-254 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2,253,924 8/ 1941 Worthington 56/253 3,106,813 10/1963 Strasel 56/2492,671,300 3/1954 Kinkead 56/249 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,001,264 8/ 1965 GreatBritain 56/249 Primary Examiner-Russell R. Kinsey Attorney-Vemon A.Johnson r CT: A yieldable adjustable mechanism for controlling thecutting relationship between the rotating blades and stationarybed-knife of a. reel mower in which the reel is mounted on thesupporting frame for pivotal movement relative thereto about an axisspaced from but parallel to the axis of the reel. The reel includes alug which is threadedly engaged by an adjusting bolt, which bolt issupported by an end plate of the frame and is rotatable and slidablerelative thereto. Turning of the bolt adjusts the cutting relationshipbetween the reel and the bed-knife and if the cutting reel movesupwardly such as by interposition of an object between the reel and thebed-knife, the bolt slidingly yields relative to the end plate whichnormally supports it. A coiled spring is mounted on the bolt andinterposed between the lug and the frame to continuously bias the reeltowards the bed-knife. Mechanism for adjusting the tension of the springcomprising a threaded sleeve slidably and rotatably mounted on the boltand a nonrotatable lug threadedly engaged with said sleeve areinterposed between the spring and the frame whereby turning of thesleeve causes movement of the lug, which movement varies the tension onthe spring.

The following disclosure contains a correct and full description of theinvention and of the best mode known to the inventor of taking advantageof the same.

s l a PAWWEU MR2 7 i971 A f'lllllllp INVENTOR. RALPH W. SPEISERArron/lay ADJUSTABLE REEL MOWER This a division of application Ser. No.390,704, filed Aug. 19, 1964.

This invention relates to an improved multiple mowing unit tractionmowing machine, and more particularly, to a machine in which the mowingunits are grouped in overlapping relationship about a small and compacttraction vehicle, and in which the mowing elements of each unit areoperated from the power source on the traction vehicle, and especiallyto novel means for adjusting and controlling the relationship betweenthe reel and the bed-knife when the mowing units are reel-type mowers.

Riding lawn mowers suitable for institutional, commercial, or park use,or for use on estates and the like where large expanses of grass are tobe cut, are commonly in widespread use, and a plurality of tractormounted reel mowers mounted in overlapping relation continues to providea better answer for such uses.

Thus, it is the principal object of my invention to provide a ridingvehicle and mower assembly, wherein several reel mowers are mounted inslightly overlapping relation to provide a wide-swath mowingconfiguration, and wherein novel means are provided for adjusting andcontrolling the relationship of the reel and bed-knife and forpreventing damage or stalling when an obstruction such as a stone orstick is interposed between the reel and the bed-knife.

This and other objects of the invention will become apparent from acareful analysis of the specification and drawings, in which:

P10. 1 is a perspective view of my overall machine, viewed from the leftfront corner,

PEG. 2 is a perspective exploded view showing the relationship of thecomponents at the end of one of my reel-mower assemblies,

H6. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of one of my reel mower unitsviewed adjacent to the height of cut adjusting apparatus,

FIG. 41 is a perspective view of my combined bed-knife and bed-bararrangement, together with the full length skid and height of cutadjusting device, all of which form a part of each complete reel mowerunit,

FlG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of my reel adjusting assembly, takenalong the line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

THE FRAME The basic frame of my mower is best seen in FIG. 1. Agenerally T-shaped main frame includes tubular cross member 101 and thebase of the T consists of channel members 102 and 103 secured togetherby bolts or other suitable means as shown. The forward most portion ofmember 102 is downwardly curved as is best illustrated in F IG. 1 andwelded at its forward end to cross member 101. The rearward end ofmember 103 is supported by wheel 130 and interconnecting linkage, andthe operators seat 140 is mounted thereabove. The forward end of member103 is provided with a suitable bushing or bearing (not shown) toreceive upstanding shaft 151 of the steering assembly. The steeringwheel or handle 150 is mounted at the upper end of shaft 151.

The forward portion of the vehicle is supported on wheels 120 and 121.

THE REEL-MOWERS The details of each reel-mower assembly will be bestunderstood by reference to FIGS. 2 through 4, inclusive. The reels areconstructed to include matching end plates 203 at either end. The endplates are held in spaced parallel relation by intermediate framemembers 204 which are securely attached between end plates 203 either bywelding directly as shown, or by means of suitable mounting brackets,and by my combined bed-knife and bed-bar 205 which is provided withintegral mounting brackets 206 welded at either end. Suitable fasteningdevices such as screws or bolts are used to fasten members 203 and we.

Endplate 203 is provided with an opening 207, and a bearing plate 208 ispivotally mounted to endplate 203 adjacent said opening by bolt 209,which is sized so as to be somewhat smaller in diameter than thecorresponding hole in bearing plate 208. A bearing 219 is carried bysaid bearing plate 208 as shown, and rotatably supports reel shaft 220.The reel shaft 220 and a portion of bearing 219 extend partially throughthe opening 207. This assembly is, of course, duplicated at each end ofthe overall reel-mower assembly.

The overall reel consists of said shaft 220, a plurality ofspirally-shaped blades 221, and a plurality of spiders 222, as shown,all of which are welded into an integral assembly and supported in theoverall reel-mower assembly by bearing plates 208 as described.Reel-shaft 220 is power driven, and by proper adjustment of reeladjustment assembly 210, the blades 22] rotate in close shearing fitwith upstanding edge 211 of member 205.

The operation of the reel adjustment assembly will be best understoodfrom FIGS. 2 and 5, wherein the assembly is shown in perspective andcross-sectional views, respectively. It is the basic function of thisassembly to raise and lower the reel blades 221 with respect toupstanding edge 211 of my combined bed-knife and bed-bar 205. This isaccomplished by rotating bearing plate 208 about bolt. 209. As bearingplate 208 is rotated slightly about bolt 209, reel shaft 220 iscorrespondingly raised and lowered to permit the necessary adjustments.

The rotational movement of bearing plate 208 about bolt 209 isaccomplished by adjustment of reel adjust assembly 210. End plate 203 ateach end of the reel assembly provides the basic supporting element forreel adjust assembly 210, the support being provided through bracket 225which is formed as an integral part of endplate 203 as shown, and whichis provided with a hole to receive the main adjusting bolt 229, having ahex-head 226 at the upper end. The lower end of bolt 229 threads intolug 230 as shown, and capscrew 232 is positioned through slot 231 inendplate 202 and threaded into lug 230 at right angles to bolt 229. itshould be noted that capscrew 232 is also positioned through therearward end of bearing plate 208 and through arcua'te slot 231 inendplate 203, and threads into lug 230. Thus, it is apparent thatvertical movement of lug 230 and capscrew 232 along slot 231 therebycauses a corresponding rotary movement of bearing plate 208 about bolt209', and that a close shearing fit between blades 221 and bed-knife 211can be achieved by appropriately adjusting bolt 229 at each end of theoverall reel'mower assembly.

When the mower is in operation, a stone, twig, small piece of metal, orother obstructing object is infrequently struck by one of the blades 221and is pinched between the blade 221 and bed-knife 211. When thatoccurs, my reel adjustment assembly 210 is effective to permit the blade221 and bedknife 211 to be forced apart and thereby avoid a stalledcondition, bending of the blade, or some other damage to the mechanism.This obstruction release mechanism includes threaded sleeve 227, lug228, and coil spring 233. Threaded sleeve 227 is provided with ahex-head nut at the upper end, and is externally threaded along itslength so as to thread into mating internal threads in lug 228. Sleeve227 is provided with a center bore slightly larger than the outerdiameter of bolt 229, to permit relative vertical movement between bolt229 and sleeve 227. It should also be noted that in the assembledposition, lug 228 is relatively close to end plate 203, and it istherefore prevented from rotating with respect to the endplate as thespring tension is adjusted. This adjustment is made by using a wrench onthe hex-head portion of threaded sleeve 227 to thereby cause downwardvertical movement of lug 228 along sleeve 227. As lug 228 movesdownwardly, spring 233 is compressed between lugs 228 and 230, and it isthis spring force that holds reel blades 221 in close sheering fit withbedknife 211. When an obstruction occurs, an upward force is exerted onthe reel assembly to cause a corresponding upward force on bearing plate208 and lug 230. When this upward force on lug 230 is greater than thedownward force exerted by spring 231, lug 230 then forces bolt 226upwardly through sleeve 227, further compressing spring 233, and causeshexhead 226 to move away from bracket 225. Thereafter, when theobstruction clears itself or is cleared by the operator in the even thata stall occurs, spring 233 restores the reel blades into close sheeringfit with bed-knife 211.

Each of the reels is supported on the ground by means of a skid 212which extends approximately the full width of the mower and is shaped ina generally arcuate configuration as is most clearly seen in FIG. 3.Each reel is provided with a height of cut adjustment assembly includinga bracket 215 welded to intermediate frame member 204 at the approximatecenter thereof, and bracket 215 is provided with a series of holes 216,as shown. A lug 213 is welded to skid 212 in vertical relation withrespect to bracket 215, and an adjusting rod 214 is pivotally mounted tolug 213 as shown. The height of cut is adjusted as is most clearly seenin FIG. 3 by moving the upper end of rod 214 vertically with respect tobracket 215, and inserting the upper end of rod 214 through the desiredhole 216 and securing it with a cotter pin. As the height of cutadjustment is made, skid 212 pivots with respect to member 205 aboutpins 217 which are securely welded at either end of skid 212, and whichare rotatably secured to bed-bar 205.

The reel-mower units that have been hereinabove described are light inweight, inexpensive to manufacture, and convenient to maintain. Thereare no wheels or rollers as are used in conventional reel units, and theheight of cut and reel adjustments are simple but effective. It will benoted in FIG. 1 that shaft 220 of unit 200 extends through its left-handendplate 203 to the left. It should also be noted that l have found itdesirable to use sheet metal covers 223 over the top of each unit, whichare fastened between intermediate frame members 204 by any suitablemeans; and that the assemblies 200 and 201 are preferably provided withbumper guards 224 shaped and positioned as shown in F IG. 1.

THE HITCHES The several reel-mower units described above, are attachedto the basic wheeled frame of the vehicle by means of specially designedhitches that are effective to permit relatively independent verticalmovement of each mower unit so as to provide relatively uniform mowingover irregular turf.

The front hitch consists of four basic components, including yoke 160which is pivotally attached at either end to reelmower units 200 and201, resmctively; a push rod which is connected between the frame andthe lower right comer of yoke 160; a push rod which is connected betweenthe vehicle frame and the lower lefi comer of yoke 160; and a push rodassembly which is connected between the vehicle frame and the uppercenter portion of yoke 160.

Reel mower units 200 and 201 are attached together by means of a strap164 and U-shaped yoke 160.

This method of attachment permits substantially independent verticalmovement of the two mower units 200 and 201 with respect to one another,while at the same time maintaining them in substantial lengthwisealignment as viewed from the top.

A further feature of my machine, and one which is effective to placeapproximately 70 per cent of the weight of the reelmower units and hitchassemblies on the wheels of the vehicle, is the simple, inexpensive andeffective mechanism that is used to suspend the mower units from thebasic wheeled frame. This suspension arrangement, with respect to thefront mowers, is best seen in FIG. 1, and consists of cantilever arms 80and 81, chains 82 and 83, and compression spring 84. Cantilever arm 80is pivotally attached to frame number 101, and compression spring 84'isconnected to the lower extremity of arm 80. Similarly, arm 81 ispivotally attached to frame number 101, and the lower extremity of arm81 is connected to the other end of compression spring 84. Thelongitudinal forces exerted by spring 84 are effective to force thelower extremities of the two cantilever arms and 81 apart, therebyraising the outer ends of arms 80 and 81. This lifting action is thencecarried to the reel-mower'assemblies 200 and 201, by means of chains 82and 83, respectively, and by proper selection of the size of spring 84,l have found it possible to effectively transfer approximately 70percent of the weight of the two reel units and hitch assembly onto thewheels of the vehicle, thereby minimizing the weight of the reels on theturf.

As is the case with the front mowers as described above, the trailingreel mower unit 202 is provided with means for shifting a substantialportion of the total weight of the mower unit to the frame of thevehicle. This is accomplished by means of a spring and piston assembly.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be thepreferred embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be madetherein without departing from the invention and it is, therefore, aimedin the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall withinthe true spirit and scope of the invention.

lclaim:

1. A reel-mower comprising:

a frame,

a bed-knife supported by said frame,

a rotatable shaft supported by said frame with a cutter blade assemblyin cooperative cutting relationship with said bed-knife,

said shaft and bed-knife being movable relative to one another,

means for adjusting the positions of said shaft and bed-knife relativeto each other to thereby alter the cutting relationship therebetween,

and a bolt supported by said frame for rotation and sliding movementrelative thereto,

said bolt being threadedly connected with said shaft, and

whereby turning of said bolt effects adjustable movement of said shaftrelative to said frame and bed-knife.

2. The mower of claim 1, wherein said shaft is mounted on said frame forswinging movement relative thereto about an axis in parallel spacedrelation to the shaft axis,

and whereby turning of said bolt effects swinging adjustment movement ofsaid shaft relative to said frame and thereby adjusts the relativedistance between the cutter blade assembly and said bed-knife.

3. The mower of claim 1, including a compressed coil springconcentrically mounted on said bolt and biasing said shaft towardoperative position and yieldingly resisting movement thereof away fromoperative position.

4. The mower of claim 3, including adjustable spring tensioning meansconcentrically mounted on said bolt in sliding relationship therewithand interposed between said spring and frame, and

the adjustment of said tensioning means varying the spring tensionwithout changing the position of said shaft.

1 5. The mower of claim 4, wherein said spring tensioning meanscomprises a tensioning assembly which includes a rotatable element and anonrotatable element,

both elements being coaxially mounted on said bolt which is axiallymovable relative thereto,

said nonrotatable element being movable axially of said bolt, and

said elements being in threaded engagement vn'th each other wherebyturning of said rotatable element effects said axial movement of thenonrotatable element which causes the aforementioned spring tensioningmovement of said tensioning assembly.

6. A reel-mower comprising:

a frame,

a bed-knife supported by said frame,

a rotatable shaft supported by said frame with a cutter blade assemblyin cooperative cutting relationship with said bed-knife,

said shaft and bed-knife being movable relative to one another,

means for adjusting the positions of said shaft and bed-knife relativeto each other to thereby alter the cutting relationship therebetween,

wherein said adjusting means includes a threaded bolt supported by saidframe,

said bolt being turntable and longitudinally slidable relative to saidframe,

a lug connected with said cutter blade assembly and in threadedengagement with said bolt whereby turning of said bolt moves saidassembly relative to said bed-knife,

a coiled spring coaxially mounted on said bolt and biasing said bladeassembly towards said bed-knife,

tensioning assembly for said spring mounted on said bolt and interposedbetween said spring and said frame,

said tensioning assembly including a first sleeve mounted on said blotin sliding relationship therewith and rotatable relative thereto,

said first sleeve being held in engagement with said frame by saidspring,

said first sleeve being externally threaded,

and a second internally threaded sleeve enclosing said first sleeve inthreaded engagement therewith,

said second sleeve being held against rotation by said frame but movablelongitudinally of said blot in response to rotation of said firstsleeve, and

said second sleeve being adapted to thereby vary the tension of saidspring in response to movement of said second sleeve longitudinally ofsaid bolt.

7. A reel-mower comprising:

a frame,

a bed-knife supported by said frame,

a rotatable shaft supported by said frame with a cutter blade assemblyin cooperative cutting relationship with said bed-knife,

said shaft and bed-knife being movable relative to one another,

means for adjusting the positions of said shaft and bed-knife relativeto each other to thereby alter the cutting relation ship therebetween,

spring biasing means urging the blades and bed-knife into cuttingrelationship with each other and yieldingly resisting movement of saidblades and bed-knife away from each other when an obstruction isinterposed between the blades and the bed-knife, and

including means operable to adjust the tension of the spring biasingmeans without moving said blades and bed-knife relative to each other.

8. The mower of claim 7, wherein said means operable to adjust thetension of the spring biasing means is capable of effecting suchadjustment without moving the shaft relative to the frame.

9. A reel mower comprising:

a frame,

a bed-knife supported by said frame,

a rotatable shaft supported by said frame with a cutter blade assemblyin cooperative cutting relationship with said bed-knife,

said shaft and bed-knife being movable relative to one another,

means for adjusting the positions of said shaft and bed-knife relativeto each other to thereby alter the cutting relationship therebetween,

spring biasing means urging the blades and bed-knife into cuttingrelationship with each other and yieldingly resisting movement of saidblades and bed-knife away from each other when an obstruction isinterposed between the blades and the bed-knife,

bearing members pivoted to the mower frame coaxially about an axisspaced from and parallel to the shaft axis,

the ends of said shaft being carried in and supported by said bearingmembers,

an adjusting bolt carried by the mower frame, at least one of saidbearing members being in threaded engagement with said adjusting bolt,and

whereby turning of said bolt causes pivotal movement of the bearingmembers and, shaft to adjust the distance between the blades and thebed-knife.

10. A reel-mower comprising:

a frame,

a bed-knife supported by said frame,

a rotatable shaft supported by said frame with a cutter blade assemblyin cooperative cutting relationship with said bed-knife,

said shaft and bed-knife being movable relative to one another,

means for adjusting the positions of said shaft and bed-knife relativeto each other to thereby alter the cutting relationship therebetween,

spring biasing means urging the blades and bed-knife into cuttingrelationship with each other and yieldingly resisting movement of saidblades and bed-knife away from each other when an obstruction isinterposed between the blades and the bed-knife,

said frame including end plates,

bearing plates pivotally attached to the respective endplates of themower frame,

an adjusting bolt carried by the mower frame, and

at least one of said bearing plates carrying a lug in threadedengagement with said adjusting bolt.

11. A reel-mower comprising:

a frame,

a bed-knife supported by said frame,

a rotatable shaft supported by said frame with a cutter blade assemblyin cooperative cutting relationship with said bed-knife,

said shaft and bed-knife being movable relative to one another,

means for adjusting the positions of said shaft and bed-knife relativeto each other to thereby alter the cutting relationship therebetween,

bearing members pivoted to the mower frame coaxially about an axisspaced from and parallel to the shaft axis,

the ends of said shaft being carried in and supported by said bearingmembers,

an adjusting bolt carried by the mower frame, at least one of saidbearing members being in threaded engagement with said adjusting bolt,

whereby turning of said bolt causes pivotal movement of the bearingmembers and shaft to adjust the distance between the blades and thebed-knife,

said frame including endplates bearing plates pivotally attached to therespective endplates of the mower frame,

an adjusting bolt carried by the mower frame,

at least one of said heating plates carrying a lug in threadedengagement with said adjusting bolt, and

the adjusting bolt being carried by the endplate so that turning of thebolt causes movement of the lug to pivot the bearing plates and theshaft.

12. A reel-mower comprising:

frame means,

a bed-knife supported by said frame means,

rotatable shaft means supported by said frame means with a cutter bladeassembly in cooperative cutting relationship with said bed-knife,

said shah means and bed-knife being movable relative to one another,

and an adjusting member extending between said means,

the frame means including endplates with the shaft means disposedinwardly therebetween,

at least one of said endplates including an outwardly extending flange,

a downwardly facing opening in said flange,

an opening in said endplate,

said shaft means and lug element being movable relative to said endplatein response to rotation of said adjusting member to adjust therelationship between said cutter blade assembly and said bed-knife. 13.The mower of claim 12, wherein said adjusting member is upwardly movablerelative to said flange in response to upward movement of said shaftmeans.

1. A reel-mower comprising: a frame, a bed-knife supported by saidframe, a rotatable shaft supported by said frame with a cutter bladeassembly in cooperative cutting relationship with said bedknife, saidshaft and bed-knife being movable relative to one another, means foradjusting the positions of said shaft and bed-knife relative to eachother to thereby alter the cutting relationship therebetween, and a boltsupported by said frame for rotation and sliding movement relativethereto, said bolt being threadedly connected with said shaft, andwhereby turning of said bolt effects adjustable movement of said shaftrelative to said frame and bed-knife.
 2. The mower of claim 1, whereinsaid shaft is mounted on said frame for swinging movement relativethereto aboUt an axis in parallel spaced relation to the shaft axis, andwhereby turning of said bolt effects swinging adjustment movement ofsaid shaft relative to said frame and thereby adjusts the relativedistance between the cutter blade assembly and said bed-knife.
 3. Themower of claim 1, including a compressed coil spring concentricallymounted on said bolt and biasing said shaft toward operative positionand yieldingly resisting movement thereof away from operative position.4. The mower of claim 3, including adjustable spring tensioning meansconcentrically mounted on said bolt in sliding relationship therewithand interposed between said spring and frame, and the adjustment of saidtensioning means varying the spring tension without changing theposition of said shaft.
 5. The mower of claim 4, wherein said springtensioning means comprises a tensioning assembly which includes arotatable element and a nonrotatable element, both elements beingcoaxially mounted on said bolt which is axially movable relativethereto, said nonrotatable element being movable axially of said bolt,and said elements being in threaded engagement with each other wherebyturning of said rotatable element effects said axial movement of thenonrotatable element which causes the aforementioned spring tensioningmovement of said tensioning assembly.
 6. A reel-mower comprising: aframe, a bed-knife supported by said frame, a rotatable shaft supportedby said frame with a cutter blade assembly in cooperative cuttingrelationship with said bed-knife, said shaft and bed-knife being movablerelative to one another, means for adjusting the positions of said shaftand bed-knife relative to each other to thereby alter the cuttingrelationship therebetween, wherein said adjusting means includes athreaded bolt supported by said frame, said bolt being turntable andlongitudinally slidable relative to said frame, a lug connected withsaid cutter blade assembly and in threaded engagement with said boltwhereby turning of said bolt moves said assembly relative to saidbed-knife, a coiled spring coaxially mounted on said bolt and biasingsaid blade assembly towards said bed-knife, tensioning assembly for saidspring mounted on said bolt and interposed between said spring and saidframe, said tensioning assembly including a first sleeve mounted on saidblot in sliding relationship therewith and rotatable relative thereto,said first sleeve being held in engagement with said frame by saidspring, said first sleeve being externally threaded, and a secondinternally threaded sleeve enclosing said first sleeve in threadedengagement therewith, said second sleeve being held against rotation bysaid frame but movable longitudinally of said blot in response torotation of said first sleeve, and said second sleeve being adapted tothereby vary the tension of said spring in response to movement of saidsecond sleeve longitudinally of said bolt.
 7. A reel-mower comprising: aframe, a bed-knife supported by said frame, a rotatable shaft supportedby said frame with a cutter blade assembly in cooperative cuttingrelationship with said bed-knife, said shaft and bed-knife being movablerelative to one another, means for adjusting the positions of said shaftand bed-knife relative to each other to thereby alter the cuttingrelationship therebetween, spring biasing means urging the blades andbed-knife into cutting relationship with each other and yieldinglyresisting movement of said blades and bed-knife away from each otherwhen an obstruction is interposed between the blades and the bed-knife,and including means operable to adjust the tension of the spring biasingmeans without moving said blades and bed-knife relative to each other.8. The mower of claim 7, wherein said means operable to adjust thetension of the spring biasing means is capable of effecting sucHadjustment without moving the shaft relative to the frame.
 9. A reelmower comprising: a frame, a bed-knife supported by said frame, arotatable shaft supported by said frame with a cutter blade assembly incooperative cutting relationship with said bed-knife, said shaft andbed-knife being movable relative to one another, means for adjusting thepositions of said shaft and bed-knife relative to each other to therebyalter the cutting relationship therebetween, spring biasing means urgingthe blades and bed-knife into cutting relationship with each other andyieldingly resisting movement of said blades and bed-knife away fromeach other when an obstruction is interposed between the blades and thebed-knife, bearing members pivoted to the mower frame coaxially about anaxis spaced from and parallel to the shaft axis, the ends of said shaftbeing carried in and supported by said bearing members, an adjustingbolt carried by the mower frame, at least one of said bearing membersbeing in threaded engagement with said adjusting bolt, and wherebyturning of said bolt causes pivotal movement of the bearing members andshaft to adjust the distance between the blades and the bed-knife.
 10. Areel-mower comprising: a frame, a bed-knife supported by said frame, arotatable shaft supported by said frame with a cutter blade assembly incooperative cutting relationship with said bed-knife, said shaft andbed-knife being movable relative to one another, means for adjusting thepositions of said shaft and bed-knife relative to each other to therebyalter the cutting relationship therebetween, spring biasing means urgingthe blades and bed-knife into cutting relationship with each other andyieldingly resisting movement of said blades and bed-knife away fromeach other when an obstruction is interposed between the blades and thebed-knife, said frame including end plates, bearing plates pivotallyattached to the respective endplates of the mower frame, an adjustingbolt carried by the mower frame, and at least one of said bearing platescarrying a lug in threaded engagement with said adjusting bolt.
 11. Areel-mower comprising: a frame, a bed-knife supported by said frame, arotatable shaft supported by said frame with a cutter blade assembly incooperative cutting relationship with said bed-knife, said shaft andbed-knife being movable relative to one another, means for adjusting thepositions of said shaft and bed-knife relative to each other to therebyalter the cutting relationship therebetween, bearing members pivoted tothe mower frame coaxially about an axis spaced from and parallel to theshaft axis, the ends of said shaft being carried in and supported bysaid bearing members, an adjusting bolt carried by the mower frame, atleast one of said bearing members being in threaded engagement with saidadjusting bolt, whereby turning of said bolt causes pivotal movement ofthe bearing members and shaft to adjust the distance between the bladesand the bed-knife, said frame including endplates bearing platespivotally attached to the respective endplates of the mower frame, anadjusting bolt carried by the mower frame, at least one of said bearingplates carrying a lug in threaded engagement with said adjusting bolt,and the adjusting bolt being carried by the endplate so that turning ofthe bolt causes movement of the lug to pivot the bearing plates and theshaft.
 12. A reel-mower comprising: frame means, a bed-knife supportedby said frame means, rotatable shaft means supported by said frame meanswith a cutter blade assembly in cooperative cutting relationship withsaid bed-knife, said shaft means and bed-knife being movable relative toone another, and an adjusting member extending between said means, theframe means including endplates with the shaft means disposed inwardlyTherebetween, at least one of said endplates including an outwardlyextending flange, a downwardly facing opening in said flange, an openingin said endplate, said shaft means extending laterally through saidopening in said endplate, and including a lug element forming a partthereof and disposed outwardly of said endplate, said member beingsupported by the top of said flange and extending downwardly throughsaid flange opening and rotatable relative thereto, the lower end ofsaid member being threadedly engaged with said lug element, and saidshaft means and lug element being movable relative to said endplate inresponse to rotation of said adjusting member to adjust the relationshipbetween said cutter blade assembly and said bed-knife.
 13. The mower ofclaim 12, wherein said adjusting member is upwardly movable relative tosaid flange in response to upward movement of said shaft means.